Trump’s geopolitical ventures expose Europe’s fragility

President Trump continues to flaunt his power at the World Economic Forum in

Davos and further sets a dangerous precedent in current global affairs. Following the

capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has now managed to

negotiate a joint security deal over Greenland. During the conference in Davos, the

President was explicit that his power should be deemed and treated as

unconditional, going as far as condescending to NATO and other world leaders to

assert his point.

Although Trump declared he would ultimately not use force over the Greenland

issue, it has further highlighted issues regarding Europe’s security and capabilities.

Europe must stand up to the realities of the apparent shift in the global order and

plan accordingly for the future, or risk falling further behind in the global pecking

order.

Amongst those voicing concerns about the future security of European nations is

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In addition to the deals over Greenland,

Trump has founded a new international body, the ‘Board of Peace’. Many countries

have been invited to join this new board, with Vladimir Putin rumoured to be

considering the invitation, and this latest initiative is an apparent attempt to rival

other international bodies such as NATO and the UN.

These recent developments are a worry for Zelensky and Ukraine, who are

continuing to endure conflict with Russia, losing thousands of troops per month, and

there is fear that, with the United States declaring a desire to decrease support,

European nations and NATO will not be able to fulfil this void.

During the World Economic Forum, Zelensky made several comments questioning

the current state of European affairs. This included the belief that, for too long,

Europe has been passive in decision-making and lacks the incentive to act. He

suggested there was a lack of action surrounding issues such as Russian missiles in

Belarus and the recent issues in Iran, which saw thousands killed during a protest.

These attributes have emerged as a pattern across recent European history, and with

Trump continually pressing on the global stage, Europe finds itself at a crucial

juncture in which the foundations of European politics and security are in the

balance. European leaders need to be more decisive in the face of adversity and

show the US and the globe that we are a united front that refuses to operate in the

background of its own affairs. President Trump is constantly reshaping the global

geopolitical landscape, and Europe could fall into the shadows of irrelevance if

efforts are not made to challenge and influence global discourse.

In the words of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “we (Europe) do not need to

accept this new reality as fate… we do have a choice to reshape the future, to

succeed we must face harsh realities and chart our course with clear-eyed realism”.

Europe must step out of the grave it is digging for itself and begin making decisions

that will ultimately secure its position on the global stage, or accept that, if things

continue in this manner, Europe could very well dissolve into irrelevancy, with less

global political influence and security.

What can Europe do to combat these issues and plan for the future?

Domestically, Europe needs to protect democracy across the continent amid a recent rise in

populist movements seeking to dismantle this way of life, driven by a perceived continuous

inability of current and recent administrations across Europe. Populist movements have

been gaining traction in many key European states such as the United Kingdom, France, and

Germany, which has caused polarisation amongst European citizens. Current leaders need

to be less passive and more decisive in confronting authoritarian movements, such as

openly condemning President Trump and continuously questioning his motives to a global

audience and for example, ensuring that Trump is unable to negotiate further a deal over

Greenland that would see the United States as the main beneficiary (particularly regarding

minerals). This could help establish greater trust and prevent further polarisation, leading to

a stronger, more united European front that embraces and protects the foundations of

democracy on which it was built.

There also needs to be further investment in collective defence-related initiatives and

greater collective involvement in conflict management across the globe. The fight against

the forces seeking to destroy democracy is a crucial priority for Europe. Europe needs to

demonstrate that it can manage conflicts without the meddling of the US and other states,

particularly when the conflicts are geographically significant or involve protecting

democracy and human rights. For instance, to continue supporting Ukraine and help protect

its future by ensuring we, as a continent, can defend it and provide sufficient military and

financial backing, even as US support for Ukraine is in the balance under the Trump

administration.

European NATO members have committed to increasing their defence budgets by 2030

through additional GDP funding, rising from around 2.4% currently to 2.9% by 2030, with

further commitments to steadily increase this beyond that point. However, it is crucial that

these funds be used to enable Europe to catch up technologically and stay on top of shifting

approaches to modern conflict. Establishing an effective European security committee,

within or outside NATO, could aid efforts to develop a more suitable defence strategy for

the continent. A committee that enables leading European states to make effective

decisions on security and conflict, operating as a separate entity from other political

alliances and with its own decision-making capabilities. This could also enable the creation

of a true European army, an initiative that has long been debated, and now is the right time

to begin considering this motion again. It would allow for more organised war efforts in an

age when European armies and strategies have become so fragmented.

If implemented correctly, these ideas could help create the blueprint that propels Europe

back into a place of influence and global stature, remaining intact regardless of any future

shift in global narratives.